Discussion on the presentations

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Discussion points from the chair person


  • Why have we failed while the policy is there and the government is allocating budget
  • Wise men have to come together and discuss the issue
  • We have to ask ourselves the manpower is there, government is investing, development agencies are there – what is really the challenge or why have we failed to promote forestry development in the country

Comments and feedback from the participants:


  • Learn from countries like Finland – some humble thought and came up and promoted the forestry sector and now 40% of the national income comes from Finland and Sweden. This is a good opportunity for us to discuss as well and become accountable – institutions supported by resources and that are accountable - no institution is accountable which this forum will bring at the end.
  • In the long term the species diversity will change and eco system restoration and this should be taken very seriously
  • Forest database – which is raised – whose task is it? Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has to take the initiative and we need a forestry database – the policy maker can’t do that. The small towns and church yards and monasteries have better forests.
  • A specialization in agriculture and that is going to be promoted under MoA, with diversification. The forest system varies from area to area – the way out is afforestation and agro-forestry.
  • Strategy in agro-foresty should vary from area to area.
  • The government and the policy makers are well aware about the need for agro-forestry and forestry.
  • Failure in land use planning has affected the policy development we have to be able generate technologies where the farmers can go for livestock, crop production and food security


Question and feedback from participants:


  • We know that Eucalyptus tree has a lot of benefit but in terms of sustainability and biodiversity – and we need to make a balance which is critical and come up with the right direction.
  • There is excessive deforestation and government is committed to promoting plantation. How do we make the balance between the two afforestation and deforestation. We need know whether we increasing the afforestation or deforestation.
  • Traditional agro-forestry system – but in terms of economic transformation at a country level – our farmers are resistant to climate changes and their economy has not been better.
  • Optimization economic transformation and traditional agro-forestry system (how do we compare this two)
  • The presentation on forest policies and strategies by Dr. Habtemariam Kassa from CIFOR, should be presented to high level policy makers
  • We need to look at the data each centre has. There should be data at a partner institution level and provide it to the stake holders
  • Policy makers and decision makers are two different people. How do we evaluate the professional resilience
  • Conservation is a choice for our survival and we have been hearing that long ago. We have to adopt to climate change
  • We have failed to bring an impact; it is not only human capacity and the capacity is fragmented within different institutions and we need a strong institution that can implement. We are running short of time and we need a strong institution that can implement. (we hear different data on forestry). We need a clear information because we need information for planning.
  • Scientific and polices have different circles which have been going parallel. These should have crossed each other and these should have come together long time ago. How can we have a common circle between the two (academic and policy)


Answers from the presenters:


  • Presentation of today focused on intensification. Everything growing in the forest needs attention and plantation forestry is important in Ethiopia but we need to differentiation what to plant where. We have to think in a holistic manner.
  • If you go to any farm land in Germany, it looks like a forest land and it is only the boarders that is covered by forest but the rest is just a farm land.
  • MoA has the mandate should have the mandate to do the data
  • We shouldn't exclude areal diversification on how are we going to optimize our land use for economic and conservation outcomes
  • We should also ask ourselves whether we are giving the government the right information.
  • Afforestation/deforestation falls to what forest is all about which was not clearly defined. We need a clear definition of forest.
  • GIS data showed that trees outside forests are increasing.
  • Policy requires a process – we need a strong institutions.
  • We need communication within the institutions science for policy – we need to have information that is strictly packed for policy makers and others
  • Agro-forestry is one means a case in India where they grow wheat and forests and it needs planning the right way
  • Regarding Eucalyptus trees, farmers are sometimes are ahead of us. We have good technologies from Wondogenet. Ecylupts shouldn’t be promoted everywhere.
  • MoA should be the owner and the data source. Regional centres should have their database. Why MoA failed to provide such kind of information?
  • On the rate of afforestation vs deforestation – tree own farm is increasing and the gaps are how many of the plants are commercial and how many for communal lands. Ethiopia is importing wood products and why is there a gap between demand and supply? We need reliable information and we need strong institutions
  • We need to conduct workshops based on evidence
  • Farm diversification is important in southern Ethiopia whereas in the north it should be area diversification but both can also go side by side (areal and farm diversification)